Indian Epigraphy c8.s1.38

c8.s1.38

The language of the Prakrit charters of the Pallavas of Kāñcī belonging to the 4th century A. D. tells us the story of the supercession of Prakrit by Sanskrit in the southernmost areas of the country, the tale being similar to that of the progress of Sanskrit in the epigraphy of the Telugu and Kanaḍa-speaking areas. Thus the Mayidavolu and Hirahadagalli plates¹ of Śivaskandavarman (middle of the 4th century) are written in literary Prakrit; but the legend on the seals affixed to them is in Sanskrit. A *maṅgala* passage at the end of the Hirahadagalli plates is also written in the Sanskrit language. The Gunapadeya plates² of the time of Skandavarman, who flourished about the last quarter of the fourth century, are likewise written in literary Prakrit, but have two of the imprecatory and benedictory stanzas in Sanskrit at the end of the document. The later grants³ of the Pallava kings who flourished in the 5th and 6th centuries are written in Sanskrit.